Technology Comparison
Surface Thermalvs Ground Source.
Ground source efficiency without the excavation nightmare. See why Surface Thermal is replacing traditional GSHP boreholes for luxury residential and commercial projects.
150 Metres Down vs 50 Millimetres Down
Traditional Ground Source
Traditional GSHPs rely on heavy drilling machinery to sink vertical boreholes up to 150m deep, or horizontal trenches destroying massive amounts of land.
- Extreme disruption to existing landscaping
- Geological surveys and drilling risks
- Massive upfront civil engineering costs
- Requires large plant machinery access
Surface Thermal
Teratherm's Surface Thermal system captures immense amounts of solar radiation directly from the surface makeup of your driveway, sitting entirely within the top 50mm.
- Zero deep drilling or trenching
- Installs seamlessly matching standard driveway schedules
- Drastically reduced groundwork costs
- Protects archaeology and tree roots
Head-to-Head Comparison
A transparent look at how the two technologies compare across key metrics.
| Feature | Traditional GSHP | Surface Thermal |
|---|---|---|
| Installation Depth | 50m to 150m deep boreholes | Only 50mm within the paving makeup |
| Site Disruption | Heavy excavation | Minimal |
| Energy Source | Geothermal ambient ground temperature | Direct solar radiation and ambient air warming the surface |
Where Does the Energy Come From?
A common misconception is that ground source heat pumps extract heat from the earth's core. In reality, all shallow geothermal systems (including GSHPs) are just giant solar collectors.
The top few meters of the ground are warmed entirely by solar radiation and ambient air hitting the surface.
GSHPs drill down to access this stored solar energy. Surface Thermal skips the middleman. We capture the thermal energy immediately as it hits your driveway or courtyard, resulting in rapid recovery times and exceptional seasonal efficiency.
Common Questions
Technical details comparing Surface Thermal to traditional Ground Source.